January 3, 2018 What will Congress focus on in the New Year and how does that impact nursing education? Join us January 29, 2018, for a #NLNVoices University Webinar. Individuals at all levels of advocacy experience are encouraged to attend, including nurse educators and nursing students. Register Now » CHAOTIC JANUARY FOR CONGRESS | | Lawmakers are under pressure to increase the budget caps and prevent automatic across-the-board spending cuts, known as sequestration. Congressional leadership and the Administration have negotiated for weeks on a two-year budget agreement that would cover the rest of the 2018 fiscal year. Read more » | NEW REPORT ON SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS SHOWS MAJOR CARE GAPS | |
The first report from the Interdepartmental Serious Mental Illness Coordinating Committee paints a grim picture of a health system that has "failed to address the needs of people with serious mental illness and serious emotional disturbance," Read more » | CONGRESS PASSES TEMPORARY FUNDING BILL BEFORE LEAVING TOWN | |
Congress approved a temporary government spending bill to keep the government funded until January 19, at current 2017 funding levels. Read more » | TEMPORARY FUNDING BILL INCLUDES CHIP FUNDING | |
The stopgap spending bill lawmakers passed before leaving Washington for the holidays provided $2.85 billion for the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and $550 million for community health centers through March 31, but a long-term bipartisan deal remains elusive.
Democrats and Republicans are divided over how to pay for the program. A five-year extension of CHIP would cost about $8 billion. Congress let funding for the program expire at the end of September. Since then, states have been running low on funds and are pressing lawmakers to act quickly.
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